The edited Provincial Policy Laboratories explores policy diffusion and transfer both as concepts and in six current, qualitatively analyzed Canadian policy cases. The term laboratories—possibly borrowed from innovation laboratories —is not explored, nor is it relevant to this well-done book. The case studies address parentage policy diffusion, hydraulic fracturing regulation transfer, endangered species legislation convergence, factors influencing sales tax transfer, convergence and divergence of carbon pricing and aviation emissions policy replication, and Canadian cannabis legalization replicating provincial tobacco and alcohol regulations. These are all relevant to policy diffusion and transfer. Jared Wesley, author of the chapter on cannabis policy replication, also uses the term policy alignment. The authors thus cover a wide range of types of diffusion. Brendan Boyd categorically distinguishes diffusion and transfer; Laurel Besco suggests they are difficult to distinguish and indicates they have been much debated (133).
The book does a good job of framing the concepts in the introduction and conclusion and of describing and analyzing the case studies. Edited books are sometimes not well integrated, but this one is better than usual, in part because most of the case study chapters use the common diffusion framework (competition, coercion, normative pressure, learning, imitation) (see Table 1.2); these chapters also use many of the same definitions, categories and references as those offered in the introduction and conclusion. Boyd indicates that this replication throughout was not deliberate: this seems curious, as there is significantly more policy diffusion/dissemination literature than what is referenced within the book.
Boyd indicates diffusion and transfer can be distinguished, but he uses the term adoption interchangeably with diffusion (4). He defines policy diffusion as “the cross-jurisdictional spread of policies among governments in Canada's federal system” (4), which is also the definition used by Meseguer and Gilardi (Reference Meseguer and Gilardi2009: 528), Obinger et al. (Reference Obinger, Schmitt and Starke2013) and Marsh and Sharman (Reference Marsh and Sharman2009) at the level of countries. He defines policy transfer as a diffusion mechanism: “the process by which knowledge about policies, administrative arrangements, institutions and ideas in one political system (past or present) is used in the development of policies, administrative arrangements, institutions and ideas in another political system” (113). The volume is therefore using the term policy to include policies, programs and administration, as do many scholars in the public policy field. Besco says: “Though policy diffusion, transfer, and convergence are sometimes used interchangeably (as noted by Marsh and Sharman Reference Marsh and Sharman2009, among others), here they are perceived as distinct parts of a process” (118). Olive and Boyd define diffusion and transfer in the conclusion the same way that Boyd does in the introduction (155). This is useful, as literature that is transparent about its definitions allows further development of the field and permits others to disagree, should they disagree, thus creating valuable debate.
The introduction and some of the case studies reference diffusion of innovation literature, especially Walker (Reference Walker1969) and Gow (Reference Gow1992), treating it as diffusion literature. None of the authors reference the conceptual innovation literature, however. No argument is made for the assumption that diffusion of policy and administrative innovation is the same phenomenon as diffusion of policy. I would have liked to see this assumption supported (Glor, Reference Glor2021).
Although a number of the case studies secured information by interviewing knowledgeable public servants, the information secured in this manner is discussed at a higher level. As in other studies, the person interviewed is a senior public servant—namely, someone authorized to speak publicly about the case. I would have liked to see working-level personnel interviewed as well, as they are usually the best informed, but this is often not permitted by public services.
This book would make a good text in a course exploring policy diffusion and transfer and in one dealing with the topics addressed by the case studies. Scholars could appropriately reference the book on those topics as well.
